Wednesday, 28 January 2015

US shifts ‘DO More’ mantra to India

From Christina Palmer

NEW DELHI- The US-India nuclear deal that was signed between the two countries almost a decade back, still seems to be ending nowhere as the India’s nuclear proliferation activities and missile tech smuggling is growing at a great pace, repelling Americans further to come to a final conclusion in this direction, reveal the investigations of The Daily Mail.

These investigations indicate that an interesting development is appearing in Indo-US ties with regard to further enhancement of civilian nuclear deal between the two countries. According to sources privy to the development in this direction say that for the past sometime that the US side earlier had a policy of asking to ‘Do More’ to Pakistan with regard to AQ Khan Network and later over the terror combating, has now come with the same mantra to India. These sources say that the US officials engaged in the process of furthering the civilian nuclear deal with India use, have constantly been asking New Delhi to “Do More” for countering the nuclear proliferation activities, missile technology smuggling and nuclear material’s safety and handling, with things actually getting worst with every passing year and latest episode was the detection of missile tech smuggling to Iran through the DRDO.

The Daily Mail’s investigations indicate that the visit by John Kerry, earlier this month gave a final wakeup call to Delhi and resulted into an abrupt sacking of DRDO Chief Avinash Chander, coupled with India asking its refineries to halt oil imports from Iran with immediate effect. However, these steps were taken just eyewash by the American team that is part of President Obama’s visit and is engaged in holding nuclear proliferation and missile tech smuggling parleys with Indians. Indian side was told that US had very strong reasons to believe that the infamous Prasad-Chaudhary network of nuclear proliferation and missile tech smuggling was not very much active in India but was flourishing at an alarming pace. The Indians were told that they were required to do much more in this direction.

The Daily Mail’s investigations indicate that where the issue of nuclear proliferation activities and missile tech smuggling was an area of prime concern for the Americans there. The issue of lethargic and rather pathetic approach of the Indians in following the nuclear safeguards measures has also been a permanent headache for Washington. The issue of constant thefts of radioactive materials and handling of Uranium in highly unsafe and irresponsible manner across India has put the Americans in a head spinning trauma. Sources say that Americans have once again raised the issue of nuclear safeguards measures with Indians and the state of affairs in Chattishgarh and especially Jadugora.

The Daily Mail’s investigations indicate that the American side held meetings with different nuclear related authorities of Indian including the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB). The violations of Nuclear Safeguards Treaty and bisection of IAEA guidelines while granting operational permission for 1000MW unit of the Kudankulam nuclear power project were also argued and certain serious explanations were sought. It may be mentioned here that the global nuclear watchdog the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was deeply disturbed with the state of affairs at the Kudankulam nuclear plant. The agency had been closely monitoring the state of affairs at India’s Kudankulam nuclear plant for quite some time and related media and intelligence reports were adding to the agency’s worries day by day. The IAEA had receive credible information that there were certain serious safety issues with the Kulankudam plant. Scientists from several Indian institutions had written to the Indian Prime Minister, expressing their extreme concerns over the use of substandard components in the Kudankulam nuclear power plant in Tiruneveli in southern Tamil Nadu. The scientists pointed to credible reports that said four valves in a critical safety system in the plant were found to be seriously defective. A copy of the letter was also sent to the secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). The letter in direction was signed by scientists from Indian Institutes of Sciences, Bangalore (IISc), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Madras and Bombay, Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Indian Institute for the Cultivation of Science (IACS), National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) and Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) and several other research institutes. Furthermore a former Navy Chief of Indian and former Army Chief General VK Singh, who is an elected member of Modi’s ruling BJP were amongst the top protestors to slam the safety shortfalls at the plant.